Figuring Out with Raj Shamani
Raj Shamani
Figuring Out is a podcast for people who want to learn. It connects the world’s sharpest minds to the 1.4 billion Indians who want to win.
Raj Shamani sits across from the world's top 1%: billionaires, leaders, entrepreneurs, athletes, and experts to give you a masterclass in what it takes to reach the top of a global stage. World’s best playbooks, strategies, and stories for the generation that wants to turn their ambitious dreams into reality. Figuring Out has become a place where the world comes to talk to India. And where India comes to learn from the world. Follow to become a part of it.
Raj Shamani sits across from the world's top 1%: billionaires, leaders, entrepreneurs, athletes, and experts to give you a masterclass in what it takes to reach the top of a global stage. World’s best playbooks, strategies, and stories for the generation that wants to turn their ambitious dreams into reality. Figuring Out has become a place where the world comes to talk to India. And where India comes to learn from the world. Follow to become a part of it.
Episodes
Mentioned books
7 snips
Sep 26, 2026 • 3h 24min
How To 100X Your Money In Boring Businesses & Spot Hidden Opportunities Asish Mohapatra | FO567 Raj Shamani
Asish Mohapatra, co-founder of OfBusiness and Oxyzo, built profitable companies serving India’s overlooked SMEs. He discusses finding billion-dollar opportunities in boring industries, from chemicals and raw materials to renewable energy. They explore funding choices, SoftBank’s investment mindset, hiring and firing, sales, culture, costly mistakes, and the sacrifices behind scaling a massive business.
Sep 24, 2026 • 1h 57min
How Much Does It Cost To Own A Private Jet? Business Explained | Abhinav Tripathi | FO566Raj Shamani
Abhinav Tripathi, an aviation entrepreneur and founder of JR Airlines, takes us inside India’s private aviation business. He explains jet ownership costs, charter pricing, memberships, aircraft sourcing, maintenance, pilot shortages, and helicopter risks. He also shares how an air ambulance crisis led to his career, why elections drive helicopter demand, unusual passenger requests, and common charter scams.
94 snips
Sep 22, 2026 • 1h 46min
How To Master Seduction, Understand Desire & Influence People | Robert Greene | FO565 Raj Shamani
Robert Greene, the bestselling author of The 48 Laws of Power and The Art of Seduction, explores the psychology of desire, charisma, and influence. They discuss mystery, strategic absence, attraction to darker traits, manipulation in social circles, and why people fall for fantasies before reality. Greene also reflects on digital distraction, curiosity, resilience, and the physical cost of mastery.
21 snips
Sep 19, 2026 • 2h 19min
How Top VCs Pick Founders, Evaluate Startups & Fund Them | Sasha Mirchandani | FO564 Raj Shamani
Sasha Mirchandani, founder of Kae Capital and co-founder of Mumbai Angels, shares how he evaluates founders and bets on startups. He discusses spotting persistence, purpose, founder-market fit, and real execution beyond polished storytelling. The conversation explores pitch decks, failed founders, venture math, landmark bets like Myntra and Porter, startup valuations, founder salaries, and India’s biggest opportunities in AI, health, fintech, and more.
Sep 17, 2026 • 1h 58min
Former Secret Service Agent: How Presidents Are Protected | Evy Poumpouras | FO563 Raj Shamani
Evy Poumpouras, a former Secret Service agent, presidential protector, investigator, and interrogation expert, reveals what happens behind the security cordon. She discusses the grueling path into the service, layered protection, overseas diplomacy, undercover operations, polygraphs, and extracting intelligence from dangerous criminals. She also reflects on psychopathy, social media threats, 9/11, and the emotional cost of resilience.
49 snips
Sep 15, 2026 • 2h 25min
TOP Harvard Scientist: These 5 Habits Are Aging You Faster | David Sinclair | FO562 Raj Shamani
David Sinclair, Harvard genetics professor and longevity scientist, explores the science of aging and age reversal. He discusses epigenetic clocks, DNA damage, fasting, NAD, exercise, GLP-1 drugs, AI-powered medicine, and whether damaged organs can be restored. The conversation also covers plant-based diets, hormesis, supplements, and five habits linked to longer healthy lives.
33 snips
Sep 12, 2026 • 1h 49min
Smriti Mandhana On Controlling Emotions, Handling Pressure & Failures | FO561 Raj Shamani
Smriti Mandhana, Indian international cricketer and one of women’s cricket’s leading batters, opens up about life at the highest level. She discusses World Cup pressure, emotional control, pre-match rituals, leadership, family sacrifices, setbacks, fame, competition, and the personal cost of ambition.
28 snips
Sep 10, 2026 • 2h 13min
Protecting the President: Security, VIP Threats & ADC Life | Major Rishabh | FO560 Raj Shamani
Major Rishabh Singh Sambyal, a former Indian Army Special Forces officer and Aide-de-Camp to the President of India, reveals the hidden world of presidential protection. He discusses protocol, threat assessments, sanitized zones, and the relentless demands of VVIP tours. He also recounts Para SF selection, combat operations, military discipline, and the personal sacrifices behind serving at the highest level.
113 snips
Sep 8, 2026 • 2h 55min
Neuroscientist's Guide To 10X Your Focus & Memory | Dr Sahar Yousef | FO559 Raj Shamani
Dr. Sahar Yousef, a UC Berkeley cognitive neuroscientist, explores how neuroplasticity shapes focus, memory, motivation, and performance. They unpack identity-based habits, addiction, digital hygiene, multitasking, creativity, chronotypes, burnout, and the hidden costs of scrolling. A fascinating tour of the brain’s systems, from the amygdala to the hippocampus, plus a nine-week study on rebuilding attention and reducing loneliness.
33 snips
Sep 5, 2026 • 1h 60min
How To Get Promoted Faster: Career Growth & Leadership Secrets | Sauvik Banerjjee |FO558 Raj Shamani
Sauvik Banerjjee, a technology executive and entrepreneur who has led teams at Tata Digital and SAP, shares his unconventional rise from cricketer to Group CTO. They explore the traits of future CEOs, fast execution, spotting corporate bullshitters, promotions, accountability, and navigating difficult bosses. Sauvik also previews voice commerce, AI hallucinations, brain-computer interfaces, India’s global ambitions, and the personal cost of leadership.
